Blessed in Persecution: The King’s Sermon on Standing Firm

Blessed in Persecution: The King’s Sermon on Standing Firm

In Luke 6:22-23 and 26, part of what we call “The King’s Sermon,” Jesus delivers a powerful message about the reality of persecution for His followers. This final beatitude and its corresponding woe address the cost of discipleship in a world that often rejects Christ. Through vivid contrasts, Jesus prepares His disciples—and us—for the inevitable hostility that comes with bearing His name, while promising a heavenly reward that far outweighs earthly trials.

Imagine the terror of Evie, an 18-year-old Christian in northern Nigeria, awakened by armed men storming her village in 2022. They beat her and other women, dragging them away for horrific abuse, targeting them for their faith. Or consider Chen Yu, owner of a Christian bookstore in China, sentenced to seven years in prison in 2019 for selling Christian materials under a regime using digital surveillance to suppress believers. Closer to home, picture yourself at work, facing pressure to display a Pride flag or declare pronouns, or at school, accused of bigotry for your beliefs. Perhaps you’ve stood in silent prayer outside a Planned Parenthood, only to face verbal abuse and threats. These scenarios, from global atrocities to local tensions, illustrate the spectrum of persecution Christians encounter. How should we respond?

Jesus speaks directly to His disciples in Luke 6:20, not to the world at large. His words are for those who have pledged allegiance to Him, identifying as His followers. He declares, “Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man” (Luke 6:22). To be “blessed” here isn’t about feeling happy but embracing a heavenly perspective—a state of being rooted in God’s truth despite earthly circumstances. Jesus uses “when,” not “if,” signaling that persecution is certain for those loyal to Him. Why? Because the world, under Satan’s influence, despises God’s righteousness. As Jesus said in John 15:18-21, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you…because you are not of the world.”

This hatred manifests in exclusion, insults, and rejection. You might be canceled on social media, sidelined at work, or even fired for refusing to compromise your faith. John Stonestreet aptly notes that Christians need a “theology of getting fired.” In a culture increasingly hostile to biblical values, standing for Christ may cost you your job, reputation, or relationships. The story of Daniel in Daniel 6 exemplifies this. Facing a decree forbidding prayer to anyone but the king, Daniel prayed openly to God, risking the lions’ den. His faithfulness, despite the threat of death, mirrors the resolve Jesus calls us to. God spared Daniel, but even if He hadn’t, Daniel’s reward in heaven was secure.

Jesus promises, “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven” (Luke 6:23). Persecution aligns us with the prophets—men like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Amos, who faced rejection, imprisonment, or death for their faithfulness. Today, they bask in God’s presence, and Jesus assures us the same awaits those who endure. Conversely, He warns, “Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets” (Luke 6:26). False prophets, then and now, gain applause by compromising truth, like churches affirming unbiblical lifestyles to avoid conflict. If your faith never stirs opposition, it’s time to examine whether you’re truly standing for Christ.

Importantly, Jesus clarifies that persecution must be “because of the Son of Man.” Suffering for being unkind or argumentative isn’t martyrdom. If you’re mocked for berating a clerk over a coupon or condescendingly speaking to a colleague, that’s not persecution for Christ—it’s the consequence of unChristlike behavior. As 1 Peter 3:16 urges, live with such integrity that even your detractors are ashamed of their slander. True persecution arises from loyalty to Jesus’ commands and truth, not from personal failings.

The Apostle Paul’s life in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 illustrates this. He endured beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks, and constant danger for Christ’s sake. Yet, he called these “light momentary afflictions” compared to the “eternal weight of glory” awaiting him (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Paul’s perspective was anchored in the cross: we deserve hell for our sins, but Jesus’ death and resurrection offer us heaven. No earthly trial compares to that gift. Whether you face hostility at work, school, or in public, Jesus calls you to stand firm, knowing your reward is eternal.

So, when persecution comes, don’t despair. Rejoice, for you’re counted worthy to suffer for Christ. Your faithfulness joins you to a legacy of prophets and believers who trusted God through trials. Keep your eyes on Jesus, the crucified and risen King, and live boldly for His kingdom.